Coaster Critique: Redhook, Black Lobstah Lager

I recently received this bottle from Redhook; I was actually excited to try this as I can’t say I’ve ever had a beer that was actually brewed with Lobster. This beer is Redbook’s twist on an Oyster Stout which I have had before but instead of stout and oysters they are doing a black lager with lobsters, this beer is part of their backyard series and to my knowledge is only available in New England.

Lobstah Lager pours black but does allow some light through and takes on a deep brown to red color when held up to the light, the pour produced a thick off white head that settled to a thin layer across the surface.

Interesting flavor, I will tell you up front it’s not like taking a bite of lobster, there is a distinct dark roasted grain flavor and just a touch of smokiness, past that I get a slight briny flavor that just hints at seafood. The beer finishes clean like I would expect from a lager but there is a subtle aftertaste that reminds me of breathing in the sea air on the coast, this took me by surprise.

Overall not a bad beer, definitely different than anything I’ve had before and I do enjoy oyster stouts. This had a similar briny flavor that you find in an oyster stout that I don’t think stood out quite as much in a lager, the finish is where I was really caught off guard, with that sort of salty air aftertaste. I enjoyed the beer and I thank Redhook for sending me a bottle, if you stumble across this beer I say give it a go, unless of course you can’t have lobster.